We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Andrés Nuño

That is a complex question, as I have been drawn to this career path throughout my entire life. I have always known that I would work in the arts, specifically in filmmaking, though it was never a meticulously planned decision. Storytelling has fortunately come naturally to me, and it has taken me time to determine the most effective ways to convey my narratives and share them with the world. Find a way to reach the largest audience to share stories I believe haven’t been told yet. Read More>>

Steven Zeng

My path to an artistic career seems unconventional on paper: I studied environmental policy and data science at UC Berkeley—worlds away from a traditional film education—and spent my childhood hopping between cities like Boston, Calgary, and Houston.

Yet all that moving sharpened my eye for pattern and place, teaching me to treat new surroundings as opportunities to learn and translating observations into story. Read More>>

Brooke Westphal

There is really no other option for me! As I continue to grow as a person and as an artist, I’ve become increasingly aware that living a creative life is integral to my existence. I love to tell stories and create memorable experiences for people. With filmmaking, I can combine those two loves into one, for both the cast and crew on set, and for the audiences watching the final film. Read More>>

Sumner Mormeneo

For me, it was never really a choice or something to consider. It was always the plan. When I was very young, I was always drawing, painting, acting, or putting on shows with the other kids in the neighborhood, or making movies. I always thought I wanted to be an Imagineer. Eventually, I did become a scenic artist on the path to get into a creative career with the Disney or Universal theme parks. Ultimately, as my career as an artist took off, I realized I needed to focus on that. Read More>>

Melissa Woods

I think I’ve always been an artist. When I was a kid, my favorite toy was my mom’s hot glue gun. I used to build all kinds of model cities and circuses from cardboard. I used to build sets for my puppets to trample – Godzilla style. My mom had a bunch of artist friends when I was growing up – one lived in a gorgeous artist loft in Minneapolis. It was such a fun, unique and comforting environment. I knew then I wanted to be an artist. I didn’t really care what kind, but I saw someone making a living from their artwork and that was so inspiring. Read More>>